Bicuspid Aortic Valve

A bicuspid valve is an aortic valve with two leaflets rather than the normal three leaflet valve. This condition can lead to early onset aortic valve stenosis. It can also be associated with leaking of the aortic valve (aortic valve insufficiency) and aneurysms of the aorta.

Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common cardiac valve abnormality which is present from birth with 1-2% of all people having this abnormality. The condition is more common in men than women.

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Symptoms

Initially patients are asymptomatic and the abnormality is present from birth. If the valve becomes more significantly narrowed the most common symptoms are